Question:

What could be the reason for poor gaming performance on a system with an i7 8700k processor, a GTX 1070 graphics card, and 16 GB of RAM?

My friend has a system with the above specifications, but he says that he cannot play Apex Legends smoothly even on very low settings. His monitor has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, but his framerate is much lower than that. I would expect him to achieve at least 144 FPS with his hardware configuration. Do you have any suggestions on how to troubleshoot this issue?

He sent me a picture of his HDMI port, which looks like it is near some USB ports. I am not sure if he plugged it into the motherboard or the graphics card. Could this be the cause of his problem? He told me that he bought his system three years ago for $1300 and never checked his graphics settings.

He later confirmed that he was using the integrated graphics of his processor instead of his dedicated graphics card. How could this happen and how can he fix it?

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Answer:

How to fix poor gaming performance on a high-end PC

If you have a PC with an i7 8700k processor, a GTX 1070 graphics card, and 16 GB of RAM, you might expect to play most games at high settings and high framerates. However, if you are experiencing poor gaming performance, such as low FPS, stuttering, or lag, there could be several reasons for that. In this article, we will explore some of the possible causes and solutions for poor gaming performance on a high-end PC.

One of the first things you should do is to check your graphics settings in the game and in the Nvidia Control Panel. Make sure that you are using the optimal settings for your system and that you are not using any unnecessary features that could lower your FPS, such as ray tracing, anti-aliasing, or ambient occlusion. You can also use the Nvidia GeForce Experience app to optimize your game settings automatically.

Check your HDMI port

Another possible reason for poor gaming performance is that you are not using your dedicated graphics card, but instead, you are using the integrated graphics of your processor. This could happen if you plugged your HDMI cable into the wrong port on your PC. If your HDMI port is near some USB ports, it is likely that it is connected to the motherboard, which uses the integrated graphics. To use your dedicated graphics card, you need to plug your HDMI cable into the port that is connected to the graphics card, which is usually located below the USB ports.

Update your drivers

Sometimes, poor gaming performance could be caused by outdated or corrupted drivers. Drivers are software that allow your hardware components to communicate with your operating system and applications. If your drivers are not up to date or are not working properly, they could affect your gaming performance. To update your drivers, you can use the Device Manager in Windows or the Nvidia GeForce Experience app. You can also download the latest drivers from the official websites of your hardware manufacturers.

Check your temperature and power supply

Another factor that could affect your gaming performance is the temperature and power supply of your PC. If your PC is overheating or not getting enough power, it could throttle your performance to prevent damage or instability. To monitor your temperature and power supply, you can use software such as HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner. You can also check the physical condition of your PC, such as the fans, the vents, and the cables. To prevent overheating or power issues, you can clean your PC regularly, use a cooling pad or a fan, and use a reliable power supply unit.

Conclusion

Poor gaming performance on a high-end PC can be frustrating, but it can also be fixed with some simple steps. By checking your graphics settings, your HDMI port, your drivers, and your temperature and power supply, you can improve your gaming performance and enjoy your games at their full potential.

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